A tragic skydiving accident near Nashville, Tennessee, claimed the life of Justin Robert Fuller, a 35-year-old instructor from Murfreesboro, on Saturday, October 4. The incident occurred during a tandem jump coordinated by Go Skydive Nashville, when Fuller became separated from his student midair and fell without a parachute.
UPDATE: NFD rescuer safely reached the parachute jumper, freed him from the harness & assisted him down the ladder using a pulley system. Patient is awake, alert & in stable condition after being suspended for hours. Patient will be transported to the hospital as a precaution. pic.twitter.com/S6LY6fZwI5
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) October 4, 2025
Authorities say the pair got stuck on the side of the plane before the separation. While the student’s parachute deployed and left him suspended in a tree, Fuller was later found deceased in a wooded clearing off Ashland City Highway by a Metro Nashville Police Department helicopter crew.
Emergency responders worked for hours to rescue the student, who was eventually brought down using a pulley system and multiple ladders. He was awake, alert, and in stable condition, and was taken to the hospital as a precaution
Go Skydive Nashville issued a statement expressing sorrow over the loss and confirmed it is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation. The company emphasized its commitment to safety and noted that its instructors are certified by the United States Parachute Association.
